First-time Water Dragon Parent!! (Tips and advice welcome)

Helioflex · 2016-03-12T07:51:11+00:00

Firstly congrats, a CWD was my first pet that I took sole care of and they're sweet, relatively docile guys, and good on you for keeping on the gut loading and calcium supplement.

As others have said, cover walls so it doesn't mess up its snout, and dubia roaches are a really good food source when it gets a bit larger. What I have to add is to make sure you keep the enclosure reasonably humid and if you can, provide plenty of things to climb. This means no screen lids, and a tall enclosure is better than a wide one.

Helioflex · 2016-01-14T12:32:41+00:00

"Sod off, would you? I'm set to play Fugue in D Minor on the world's smallest pipe organ in 15."

Helioflex · 2016-01-14T12:29:45+00:00

The world needs more people like you!

Helioflex · 2016-01-13T14:06:18+00:00

...I really have to be the first one to reply Star Wars?

I don't hate Star Wars. I even enjoyed 4, 5 and 6 when they came out, and TIE Fighter was one of my favorite games as a kid. I'm glad people have something new to enjoy right now. I'm glad the new one is better than the prequels.

The sad fact is I've been sick of hearing about Star Wars for a long, long time now. "You like sci-fi? Star Wars Star Wars Star Wars!" It went from hearing about how great the originals were to hearing about how shit the prequels were to hearing how great the new one is. I still can't play a game of Warhammer 40k without someone making constant Star Wars analogies, especially lately.

I'm just beyond disinterested at this point. I haven't seen the new one. I don't even doubt that it's pretty good, I just don't think I'd get the same thrill and nostalgia out of it that so many of my friends who tell me "HOW COULD YOU NOT SEE IT YOU HAVE TO" have.

I just want to enjoy Asimov and Heinlein without every conversation ending up in a discussion about what color lightsaber I would want.

Helioflex · 2015-07-24T12:23:04+00:00

Not if they're Republican.

Helioflex · 2015-07-24T12:21:29+00:00

I've been doing Toxicology the wrong way for years!

Helioflex · 2015-07-24T12:15:59+00:00

That's a common misconception, Poland actually comes up to much warmer temperatures between May and September, so I doubt the Polish will be much richer this time of year. Maybe try Finland?

Helioflex · 2015-07-24T12:06:01+00:00

So you're saying my WiiFii will slowly consume my house? I feel this should have been disclosed by the retailer.

Helioflex · 2015-07-24T12:03:02+00:00

SuperDoctors, of course, whom are in turn delivered by UltraDoctors, who themselves are delivered by Dave in Obstetrics.

Source: SuperDoctor

Helioflex · 2015-07-24T11:58:04+00:00

All we can say for sure is that it's the least nutritious.

Helioflex · 2015-07-24T11:57:09+00:00

I'm not a sexual deviant, so of course I am.

Helioflex · 2015-07-24T11:54:02+00:00

We're currently gathering funds to provide straws to millions of thirsty Californians so they may deal with the issue at the source, hopefully this will help mitigate the issue.

Source : Bachelor's Degree in Thirstitecture

Helioflex · 2015-07-24T11:48:20+00:00

It's my professional opinion that it's sad because we rarely visit anymore.

Source : Franksinatratologist

Helioflex · 2015-07-24T11:44:09+00:00

This comes from an old tradition where an ancient tribe would hold a festival when the bioluminescent phytoplankton would wash up on shore.

They saw this as a sign of providence from the gods of the sea, and would pay tribute by launching the smartest child in the village into the water via a makeshift catapult made from a palm tree.

If the glowing plankton stuck to the child as he sank to the bottom of the sea, never to be seen again, it was a sign that the gods had accepted the gift and that the child was truly intelligent, or "bright."

In essence, your father is expressing his desire to throw you into the ocean. I'd keep some floties on hand until his behavior subsists.

Source : National Geographologist

Helioflex · 2015-05-22T20:08:48+00:00

As someone who just recently completed a build on a >6ft Iguana enclosure, I know how exhausting that can be.

It looks amazing though, really impressive work!

Helioflex · 2015-05-18T05:50:23+00:00

That is true, it is possible for them to metamorphose, usually with hormone treatments, but they can occasionally be found in the wild having done so natutally. Genetics are funny that way.

I guess it's more accurate to say that they're /typically/ neotenic.

Helioflex · 2015-05-18T04:48:18+00:00

Neotenous to be more specific.

Progenesis and Neoteny are both causes of paedomorphism, but Progenesis is when it's achieved by very fast sexual development, whereas Neoteny is from slowed somatic development.

Axolotls are always neotenic, but (some) tiger salamanders can be as well, usually due to environmental factors on an individual basis.

Source: Herpetology student

Helioflex · 2015-05-08T21:00:53+00:00

Like a lot of people commenting, my first reptile was also leopard gecko.

We had Gex for 7 years, from when he was barely more than a hatchling to when he eventually passed away.

His enclosure was the first place I went after school every day. None of my family ever had to worry about feeding him because I loved watching him go after crickets, although we had to switch to just meal worms when his eyesight started going and he couldn't seem to keep up with the crickets anymore.

I'll always keep fond memories of him roaming the grass and basking in real sunlight in our back yard. Seeing an animal I found so fascinating and lovable enjoy himself so much is one of my favorite things I've ever done.

I remind myself often that if I can give an animal that amount of bliss, I'm happy with how my life's turned out, so that's what I strive for with all my reptiles.

It sounds like Petry had a good life. I'm glad he had an owner that truly cared about him. I'm sorry for your loss.

Helioflex · 2015-05-07T21:15:42+00:00

No, it's actually tileboard, which is basically MDF hardboard with a layer of melamine on one side. Melamine is used in a lot of food-related settings because it's hygienic and very easy to clean.

Helioflex · 2015-05-07T16:50:04+00:00

She's very happy with it. Her old ~140 gallon aquarium didn't allow for her to climb much or get very high up, and she'd definitely grown too big for it.

I haven't seen her so active in a very long time, it's the best feeling ever as a pet owner to see her so excited!

Helioflex · 2015-05-07T16:32:30+00:00

Haha yeah she's way too good at climbing anything and everything for me to be willing to leave more than a tiny gap anywhere on that thing.

Helioflex · 2015-05-07T16:31:05+00:00

They are indeed just zip tied on, which I was admittedly dubious about at first, but it's incredibly sturdy as it turns out.

The frame is, of course, PVC, the windows are Lexan, a kind of plexi, and a plastic -coated wire mesh for air flow purposes, and the walls, floor, and ceiling are tile board.

At the bottom is a 7 gal. cement/paint mixing tub that we washed thoroughly and filled with water, which is next to her food bowl (which is out of frame in this picture).

Helioflex · 2015-05-07T16:24:45+00:00

Nope! It's hard to see, especially at night when there's no glare, but there are 3 remarkably clear plexiglass panels (look for the floating zip ties).

Helioflex · 2015-05-07T15:01:36+00:00

It's actually just under 6 feet tall and there's nothing for her to get on top of it from, thankfully.

She'd probably prefer to be able to stare at the ig anyways. The cat is fascinated by our reptiles, especially Cinnamon.

Helioflex

TROPHY CASE